Five New Albums Worth Your Dime

1. Glasvegas, Glasvegas(You can hear Scotland in every woozy and boozy lovelorn track on this fine debut. For fans of epic and lush guitar pop, akin to Gene or James. Or, sorta like Frankie Valli and the Mary Chain. It's a wall of sound in every definition, past and present.)

2. Cat Power, Dark End of the Street(Chan Marshall unloads this EP of more hushed, bluesy and folky covers of Creedence and Wilson Pickett. I look forward to her mastering a proper original studio album again, but covers like these are a fine distraction.)

3. Air France, No Way Down(A blissful electronic album from these Swedish newcomers. Layered with enigma and melody, it's the kind of soundtrack to almost any time of the day... or night.)

4. Erin McCarley, Love, Save the Empty(One minute, this singer-songwriter seems to draw inspiration from acts like The Sundays or Lush. The next, she sounds like a more vibrant Sheryl Crow. Whatever it is, it's good, and highly accessible to even the most casual indie fan,)

5. Deerhunter, Microcastle(Splendid, splendid noise rock from Atlanta. A better album than their last, more succinct and direct and catchy. Terrific stuff.)